Motion-transmitting unit



March 23, 1948. A. 5. PARKER 2,438,132

MOTION TRANSMIT'IING UNIT Filed July 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1, 5'. INVENTQR w A-G. PARKE R w 1mm m Patented Mar. 23,, 1948 waist UNITED STATES Perem OFFICE" 2,438,182 MOTION-TRANSMITTING UNIT Arnold G. Parker, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada 1945, Serial No. 605,309

Application July 16,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in motion-transmitting units of the kind in which an inclined disk of the swash-plate or Wobbler type is employed for converting rotary oscillating motion into linear or reciprocating motion.

Various units of this type have been proposed in which the inclined disk is fixed to rotate with a supporting shaft which is journalled in stationary bearings and is oscillated about a central longitudinal axis to impart reciprocating movement to a rod or other driven element through the agency of the inclined disk and a cooperating yoke or yoke ring. In such units the yoke ring is operatively connected to the inclined disk and is mounted to oscillate about an aXis which intersects the first mentioned axis at an angle of 90 and is coplanar therewith. In some units of this type, provision is made for adjusting the inclination or obliquity of the disk with reference to its supporting shaft.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved motion-transmitting unit of the character described which, in comparison with known units of similar type, has a much wider range of useful application.

One improvement afforded by the present invention consists in mounting the inclined disk on a supporting shaft which, in addition to being rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, is also capable of bodily tilting movement about a transverse axis. With this arrangement reciprocating motion may be transmitted to the rod or other driven element through the agency of the inclined disk and the cooperating yoke or yoke ring by (a) rotating the disk-carrying shaft about its central longitudinal axis, or (b) tilting said shaft about said transverse axis. The rotary and tilting movements of the shaft may be performed either successively or simultaneously.

Another improvement afforded by the present invention comprises assembling the component parts of the motion-transmittin unit so that, in

- certain maximum travel positions in which the inclined disk and the cooperating yoke assume coplanar positions, the yoke is locked against operation by the rod or other driven element connected therewith but will operate in response to either rotary or tilting movement of the diskcarrying shaft.

Other characteristic features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a motion-transmitthe inclined ting unit constructed in accordance with my invention. In this view the operating parts are shown in what is termed the neutral position.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing disk and cooperating yoke in one ,of the coplanar maximum travel positions to which these parts are shifted when the disk-carrying shaft has been turned through a predetermined maximum angle in one direction from its neutral setting.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the disk and yoke in the other maximum travel coplanar positions to which these parts are shifted when the disk-carrying shaft is turned through the maximum permissible angle in the opposite direction from its neutral setting.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken substantially along the section line 5--5 of Fig. 3 and shows the mounting and assembly of the disk-carrying shaft, the inclined disk mounted thereon and the cooperating disk-actuated yoke ring,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. l and shows the manner in which the primary member and the yoke, ring are mounted to swing about a common axis transverse to the axis of rotation of the disk-carrying shaft.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5 designates a bracket including parallel arms 6 projecting from a base plate I. An open frame member 8, hereinafter referred to as the primary member of the motion-transmitting unit, is equipped with hollow trunnions 9 rigidly secured thereto (see Fig. 6) and extending outwardly through bearing housings I!) provided at the free ends of the bracket arms 6. The trunnions 9 are preferably journalled in the bearing housings It] by suitable anti-friction bearings H. Primary member 8- is thus mounted to oscillate about the axis C-D.

A yoke ring i2 is also mounted to oscillate about axis 0-D by means of two supporting shafts l3 extending inwardly through thehollow trunnions 9. The shafts 13 are fixed to rotate with the trunnions 9 by the threaded connections M or any other suitable means. The inner ends of shafts l3 extend into bearing housing-s l5 provided at the opposite sides of the yoke ring l2 and are preferably journalled in anti-friction bearings IS.

A shaft 18 extends through yoke ring l2 at right angles thereto and has end portions thereof journalled in anti-friction bearings i=9 contained 'disk 22 which is the intersection of the axes in bearing housings 20 afforded by diametrically opposite portions of the primary member 8. It will thus be seen that shaft I8 is journalled to axis -D at right angles and is coplanar therewith. Shaft I8 carries a swash-plate or Wobbler fixed to rotate therewith and is obliquely inclined with reference to the axis AB. A strap ring 24! extends around the periphery of disk #22 and is mounted thereon by an annular anti-friction bearing 25 (see Fig. 5) which retains the strap ring and disk in coplanar relation. The strap ring 24 carries diametrically opposite trunnions 2 6 which lie T011 an axis at right angles to the yoke-supporting shafts I3 and are journalled in anti-friction bearings 27 carried by the yoke ring E2: The yoke ring I2 is also provided with ears "27' to which one end of a rod 28 or other motiontransmitting element is secured by a pivot pin 29 :Thershaft I 8, -disk 22=and diskeencircling strap ringrzi conjointly constitute what is herein-after termed the secondary member of the motiontransmitting unit.

One -.of the hollow .trunnions -9 of primary member =8. is extended beyond its bearing housing 1.0 and equipped with an operating lever to whichmaybe operated byany suitable means to oscillate the ,primary member 8 about .theaxis ;C D and thereby effect bodilytilting movement of the secondary member comprising shaft i8, .,disk..Z-2 and strap ring 24' about the same axis. Ewing to. the trunnion connection provided .be- ,tween the yokering I12 and .thedisk-encircling gstrapiring :2.4:it willJoe obviousthat the bodily tilting movement -.of disk 22 about axis LC+LD will resultgin oscillatin movement of yokeling Jgzfiaboutthe same. axis. .an'olthereby eifect linear .orireciprocating1-movement .of the rod .or driven fielement28.

One s end (of shaft .18 is i also extended .beyond the adjacent Tbearing'housing 2B and-equipped .withagear IBa-meishingwith a larger gear- I812 ;fiXedtooa.,shaft -I.8'cto which oneenid of an .nperatingflever 32 iscrigidly secured. "Lever 32 maybe actuated by-any suitable .means'to ososcillation of shaft is about axis A"B serves, through the agency .of the ithestrap .ring' axis ;C1D- and thereby impartlinear or reciprocatin r movement to the rod. 28 or other driven element. 7

From the foregoing it will be seen that "linear gprimary member 8 and 'the shaft 'i8iin eith'er direction about the axis ;C D. It will also be apparent that :these movements ofshaft iii-about a determinedby design requirements. "The'trunare positioned directly above and below AB and CD.

inclined disk 22 wand 2'4, ,to oscillate .yo'ke ring iI'Zabout imparted to therod or driven maximum travel positions its neutralpos'ition. 'It will thus be shaft IB has a .total travel of 180 maximum travel position to the other. leveri-iizlis swung to the right from neutral posilockingpositions its maximum travels positions.

The relative angular setting of disk 22 and lever 32 on shafts I8 and I is such that, in the neutral condition of the unit, lever 32 extends downwardly from shaft full lines in Fig. 2. In the present instance the lever 30, which operates primary member 5, is also shown fixed to its trunnion *9 so that it lies in a horizontal of the unit.

Lever32 isconnected tooperating mechanism (not shown) so that (as indicated by dotted lines) it may be swung upwardly in either direction from its neutral position N to either of the T or T to thereby angle of from seen that from one When rotate shaft 3 through an tion N to rotate shaft I 8 in a clockwise directionthroughan angle of 180 the .disk ZZ-and yoke 12 are shifted to the coplanar-and yokeshown in Fig; 4 and the-driven element .or rod I28 is-moved its maximum distance in the direction indicated by the-arrow R. .In this .coplanar .position of the disk :22 and ,yoke i2 the latter is locked against :movemen-t inuresponse to anypnll or thrust exerted thereon ;by.the rod or .driven memberZB.

'When .the lever 1321s .moved to .the ieft from theneutral .p'osition N torotate .shaft [8 through anangle of I80in-a counter-clockwisedirection the. disk 22 Vandyoke-JY are fshiftedito the coplanar position shown .in Fig. Q3 and the .rod '.or .driven memberlileisjshifted themaximum zdis- ,tancein thedireotion indicated .by arrowRi'i in thissecon'd Hcoplananmaximum travel position of disk ZZJand yQke I2, theilattereis,alsolocked against :movement 'in response to any gpull lor thrust of the driven member. a i 7 r r The aforesaid lockingof yok'e 12in either of either of the two extreme positionsto' which it is shifted by the yoke'." Thisfeature is-important, for exampleyinscases where the motionetransmitting unit is employed for extending orre- 'tractingtheundercarriage of an aircraft asset forth in my .copending application Ser. #605310,

connected to said}lever is a variable faotor.

In the practicallapplication' of' this invention the driven member ZSmayrbe movedlto either of its extreme-positions or to any intermediate-pcsie tion by swinging lever 32 in: either :direction .from its neutral position N. i Driven :member 7 28 may be similarly operated bysmoving the .lever :39 3130 swing the primary member 8 in either direction from its neutral position; If desired, the two ,levers 3 c and #32 maybe suitably connected to a single operatingselementsuchqas aihandileveriso that :the rotaryand bodily tiltingm overnents :of

shaft I8 may be accomplished either successively or simultaneously by I80 as shown by plane in the neutral condition primary membert may be oscillated about axi-s-'C-Dthrough'-the agency of lever '35] and operating mechanism appropriate movementjof 605,310 filed July 16, 1945, in which two units designed in accordance with the present invention are incorporated in an aircraft control system to conjointly provide a simple and efficient mechanism for controlling the action of the ailerons. In this application of the invention the bodily tilting movement of the primary members of the two unit-s is employed for controlling the droop angle of both ailerons and the rotary oscillating movement of the disk carrying shafts of said units is employed for swinging the ailerons vertically in different directions for controlling the aircraft about .its longitudinal axis.

The magnitude of the angular motion imparted to the yoke ring l2 by rotation of disk 22 is governed by the angle at which the disk is set in relation to its axis and this angle may be varied for different applications.

Angular movement of lever 3-2 to rotate shaft l8 through its prescribed angle of 100 imparts to yoke 12 a total angular movement about axis C-D which is equal to twice angle of indicated in Fig. 5, this angle being a measure of the distance which the yoke travels to either side of its neutral vertical position. Owing to the angular arrangement of disk 22 on shaft l8, this movement of yoke l2 proceeds at varying velocity in response to constant velocity movement of lever 32.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, in the specific arrangement shown in the present drawings, the angular motion imparted to yoke l2 by movement of lever 32 to operate shaft is to maxi mum travel position in one direction is equal to the reverse angular motion imparted to said yoke by movement of lever 32 to operate shaft it to its maximum travel position in the opposite direction. This is so because, in the neutral posi tion of lever 32 and disk 22, yoke 62 lies in the neutral vertical position shown in Fig. 1 and the yoke actuating trunnions 2.6 are positioned directly above and below the intersection of axes AB and C-D. For some applications of the motion-transmitting unit described herein it is important that the angular motion of yoke ii in a given direction about axis C-D be greater or less than the reverse angular motion of the yoke about said axis.

This is easily provided for by initially assembling the component parts of the unit so that, when lever 32 is in the neutral position N (Fig. 2) the disk 22 will be in some other position than that shown in 1 and the yoke 32 will lie in a position inclined either forwardly or rearwardly from the vertical position shown in Figure 1. Depending on the direction in which the yoke i2 is so inclined the angular motion thereof in the direction indicated by arrow B in Fig. l will be greater or less than the angular motion in the reverse direction indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 3. One example of the utility of this modification is described and illustrated in my oopending application Serial No. 605,310, filed July 16, 1945, in which two motion-transmitting units embodying my invention are included in an aircraft aileron control systemto provide a differential operating mechanism for actuating the ailerons to vary the lift of the aircraft or to maintain it on an even keel. In this application of my invention the yokes of the two coordinated motion-transmitting units are employed for swinging the ailerons vertically in opposite direction to control the aircraft about its longitudinal axis and are arranged so that the aileron raising motion of each yoke is greater than its aileron lowering motion.

In many applications such, for example, as that disclosed in my said copending application Serial No. 605,310 the shaft l8 has a total angular travel of less than from one extreme position to the other and the self-locking feature of the unit is not utilized. In such applications it is feasible to dispense with the gears [8a and 18b and to secure lever 32 directly to shaft l8.

I claim:

1. A motion-transmitting unit comprising a shaft, means for rotating said shaft about its central longitudinal axis, means for tilting said shaft about a transverse axis, an inclined disk carried by said shaft, a yoke through which said shaft extends, means mounting said yoke for swinging movement about said transverse axis and means interconnecting said yoke and disk so that swinging movement is imparted to the yoke by either rotary or tilting movement of said shaft.

2. A motion-transmitting unit as set forth in claim 1, in which the means for tilting the shaft about said transverse axis comprises a primary member in which the shaft is rotatably journalled, means mounting said primary member for swinging movement about an axis constituting said transverse axis and means for imparting swinging movement to said primary member.

3. A motion-transmitting unit comprising sta" tionary bearings, a primary member provided with hollow trunnions journalled in said bearings, shafts extending through said hollow trunnions and positioned to rotate therewith, a yoke supported on the inner ends of said shafts for swing ing movement relatively to said primary member, a shaft passing through said yoke and having its ends rotatably journalled in bearings carried by said primary member, a disk-carried by and rotatable with said shaft, said disk being obliquely inclined with reference to the central axis of said shaft and means interconnecting said disk and yoke so that swinging movement is imparted to the yoke when (a) said shaft is rotated about its central longitudinal axis, or (b) said shaft is tilted about a transverse axis in response to swinging movement of the primary member about the axis afforded by said trunnions.

4. A motion-transmitting unit comprising a primary member and a yoke mounted for independent swinging movement about a common fixed and having its ends rotatably journalled in bearings carried by the primary member, a disk carrled by and rotatable with said shaft, said dis being obliquely inclined with respect to the central axis of said shaft and means interconnecting the disk and yoke so that the yoke is swung about its fixed axis in response to (a) rotation of the shaft in either direction about its central longitudinal axis, or (b) swinging movement of the primary member and shaft in either direction about the fixed axis of the primary member.

axis, a shaft extending through the yoke therewith, .a'yoke through which said shaft extends, 'means mounting said yoke for swinging movement about an axis intersecting said shaft axis at' right angles thereto and passing through the disk-carrying portion of the shaft, means interconnecting said yoke and disk so that swinging movement is impartedrto the yoke by the disk in responseto rotation of the shaft, shaft operating means through'which torque is appliedto said shaft to rotate it through only a partialrevolution in either direction to either of two predetermined positions of rest in which the disk and yoke are disposed in a coplanar position "and in which the means interconnecting said yoke and disk is positioned so that loads transmitted to :the shaft through said yoke and disk are ineffective to rotate the shaft on its axis.

ARNOLD G. PARKER. 

